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A new North American coalition led by economic libertarian groups and consumer champions has been established to campaign for the breakup of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.<\/p>\n
The \u2018Break Up Ticketmaster\u2019 coalition, led by the American Economic Liberties Project, Consumer Federation of America and the National Consumers League, plans to increase the pressure on the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and unwind the 2010 Live Nation-Ticketmaster merger.<\/p>\n
The coalition said \u201cmomentum is building to unwind the merger\u201d and its founding comes in the wake of an antitrust class action over Live Nation-Ticketmaster\u2019s alleged monopoly over the sector. A number of politicians have called for action to be taken, with influential congressman Bill Pascrell recently urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and DOJ Antitrust Division<\/a> to consider overturning the merger.<\/p>\n \u201cTicketmaster\u2019s market power over live events is ripping off sports and music fans and undermining the vibrancy and independence of the music industry,\u201d said Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project.<\/p>\n \u201cWith new leadership at the DOJ committed to enforcing the antitrust laws, our new campaign helps connect the voices of fans, artists, and others in the music business who are sick and tired of being at the mercy of Ticketmaster\u2019s monopoly with enforcers who have the power to unwind it.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u2018Break Up Ticketmaster\u2019 coalition said Live Nation-Ticketmaster owns more than 70% of the primary ticketing and live event venues market, and \u201cuses that power to hike up ticket prices, tack on expensive junk fees, and exploit artists, independent venues, and fans\u201d.<\/p>\n The campaign launch features a new policy quick-take from Economic Liberties, an explainer video from More Perfect Union and a coalition letter writing campaign that will allow fans, artists, and venues across the US to share stories of Ticketmaster\u2019s anticompetitive conduct and demand the DOJ move to break it up.<\/p>\n The group also features Sports Fans Coalition, Fight Corporate Monopolies, More Perfect Union, Fan Freedom and the Artist Rights Alliance.<\/p>\n Helen Brosnan, executive director of Fight Corporate Monopolies, said: \u201cEveryday Americans are being scammed and extorted by Ticketmaster for wanting to see their favourite sports teams and artists perform.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than a decade later, their merger has resulted in consumers being held hostage by a company that uses its monopoly power to make everyone\u2019s experience miserable \u2014 artists, concertgoers and sports fans, and independent venues alike. It should have never happened in the first place and the DOJ must step in and break them up.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n